O-R Athlete of the Week: Elijah Allah, Charleroi
Name: Elijah Allah
Grade: Sophomore
School: Charleroi
Sport: Football
Allah’s week: Though he knew he had found the end zone a lot, Allah wasn’t sure of the exact number of touchdowns he had scored on Friday until his total was said over the PA system late in the fourth quarter.
“After the last touchdown I scored, they announced that I had six,” Allah said. “I really can’t describe it, but I was just so happy for my linemen, because without them I wouldn’t have been successful. It was great.”
Allah scored on runs of 5, 7, 8, 17 and 36 yards and caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jaxson Klinger in Charleroi’s 46-41 loss to South Allegheny. He finished with 258 yards on 31 carries. He was tied for second in the WPIAL in rushing yards for Week 7.
Allah didn’t know going in he’d have that big of a workload, but was pleased with the effectiveness of the Cougars’ rushing attack.
“Honestly, the game before (against Steel Valley) we didn’t have a lot of success running the ball because they were blitzing us a lot,” Allah said. “I was very excited to see that our linemen picked up the blitzes and were very successful up front with their blocking. I didn’t know going in what the game was going to be like, but I just wanted to go in and do what I do.”
The only thing that would’ve made the night better would’ve been a win. Allah’s 36-yard touchdown run put Charleroi ahead 41-40 in the fourth quarter, but the Gladiators responded with a late touchdown to secure the win.
Regardless, it was a career high in touchdowns at any level for Allah.
“I think the most I had scored (before Friday) was two,” Allah said.
Former lineman: Allah is the featured back for Charleroi now, but that wasn’t his position when he first started playing football.
He was an offensive lineman and played there out of necessity.
“My first year was in fifth grade and I had to start as a lineman, because I was over the weight limit,” Allah said. “That’s how I started my football career. I really didn’t start playing running back until my eighth-grade year and really last year was the first time I was a full-time running back.”
Being an offensive lineman first gave Allah a unique perspective as a runner.
“It helps you see what the linemen do with their technique and what they go through on every play,” Allah said. “If it’s a bad play, you don’t get too mad at them but instead pick them up and encourage them to be better on the next play.”
Three-sport athlete: Aside from football, Allah plays basketball and is a sprinter and jumper on the track team at Charleroi. He said football is his favorite sport and his best of the three.
“Football to me is more like a lifestyle,” Allah said. “That’s the sport I want to play when I get older. I want to go to college to play football. That’s my dream.”
Spell enjoyer: Like most high school running backs, Allah has a favorite player he wants to emulate.
Where he differs from most is that his favorite is not a professional.
Most running backs point to an NFL back like Derrick Henry or Jaylen Warren, but Allah’s is closer to his age.
Allah’s favorite running back is McKeesport standout Kemon Spell.
Spell is a highly recruited, five-star running back committed to Georgia.
“I really admire him,” Allah said. “He’s a great running back. I’ve watched some of his games on YouTube and as soon as he shifts into gear, he’s really fast and can break tackles. When he gets into open space, he’s uncatchable.”
Compiled by Jerin Steele